Our Father Who art in heaven...
Jesus remained for forty days with the apostles after his Resurrection from the dead. During that long time he showed his wounds to them and explained the parts of the bible that spoke about him long before. One morning, he made breakfast for them on the beach. How wonderful it would have been to be there!
Hail Mary full of grace...
Ascension means that Jesus went up to heaven. He is sitting inside a mandorla - a circle of light. Something is happening that is beyond my understanding - something wonderful beyond my normal sight. Six angels go with Jesus. Some of them even blow horns. The air is alive with brightness. Jesus is light for my mind.
Hail Mary full of grace...
The bible says, "The Lord has gone up with a shout; the Lord with the sound of the trumpet." There's lots of shouting today: shouting at the soccer match, shouting while we argue over the remote, shouting at our parents and siblings (that's sad), shouting on the playground. What about a happy shout-out for Jesus, who rose from the dead, to raise us up to God's new idea of joy and love.
Hail Mary full of grace...
And while Jesus ascends to heaven, he carries all human beings to the higher heavens with him. He carries us to his promise of full living. He wants us to see the complete plan that God has had for every person from the very first moment. God gets everything out of the way that can keep us from being grown-up all the way.
Hail Mary full of grace...
There are angels in white telling the apostles not to be afraid, Jesus will return. Angels come to give us a message of peace. So if I am ever afraid of the darkness or being alone - I will say hello, welcome and thank you to the angel who cares for me.
Hail Mary full of grace...
Here in the icon, Jesus is blessing us with his right hand. He wants me and my family to be happy, safe and well. But maybe his outstretched hand reminds us that we are small and sometime or other we all need a helping hand. I can count on Jesus.
Hail Mary full of grace...
One bible page tells us that during the forty days Jesus ate fish and honey with the apostles. Fish are silent, and Jesus was silent during the terrible time of his suffering. And bees make honey - life with Jesus is pleasurable and sweet. Bees also make wax for candles that give light. The light of Jesus pushes away the darkness - especially the darkness that gets inside hearts and minds.
Hail Mary full of grace...
Mary is here too, in the middle with the apostles. Wasn't her suffering terrible when she stood underneath the cross and all the friends ran away except John? Now Jesus gives Mary the great joy of seeing him alive and returning to heaven. It's a joy that is equal to her sorrow.
Hail Mary full of grace...
The apostles were eye-witnesses when Jesus ascended. And the word apostle means, one who is sent out. So when we put the two together, the apostles went out to tell people what they saw and heard from Jesus. We're apostles too - sent out to tell other people that God is good and true to his promise of friendship.
Hail Mary full of grace...
Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place for you, so that where I am you also may be." We live on this earth which can be very wonderful, but in the end, we're citizens of heaven! We can throw off the silly things that belong just to earth and dress ourselves in goodness - the bright clothing of heaven.
Hail Mary full of grace...
Glory be to the Father...
